Britain has introduced visa restrictions on nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), citing the country’s inadequate cooperation in accepting the return of irregular migrants and foreign offenders, the UK Home Office announced on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
The measures remove fast-track visa processing for all DRC citizens and end preferential treatment for VIPs, diplomats, and decision-makers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that further steps, potentially including a full visa ban, could follow if cooperation does not improve rapidly.
“If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they must take them back,” Mahmood said in a statement. “I thank Angola and Namibia and welcome their cooperation. Now is the time for the Democratic Republic of Congo to do the right thing: take your citizens back or lose the privilege of entering our country.”
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The restrictions stem from frustrations over delayed paperwork and requirements for individuals to sign their own deportation documents, effectively granting them a veto, according to the Home Office. These issues have hindered the removal of thousands of migrants.
In contrast, Angola and Namibia, initially threatened alongside the DRC in November 2025, have agreed to enhance their repatriation processes, avoiding sanctions. The Home Office described this as the “first delivery success” from asylum reforms announced last month, aimed at tightening rules and accelerating deportations.
DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya responded on Sunday, stating that discussions are underway between the DRC interior ministry and the UK embassy in Kinshasa. “The framework of the procedure has been clarified, and operational points identified,” he told AFP, adding that a technical meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to seek agreement, with both sides targeting resolution by January 30. Muyaya emphasised that returns must respect norms and noted that the UK measure “cannot be applied while discussions are ongoing.”
This development occurs amid record-high UK asylum claims, with 111,084 applications in the year to June 2025, according to official figures. Immigration remains a polarising issue in Britain, boosting support for parties advocating stricter controls ahead of local elections.
The policy echoes approaches in other countries, drawing comparisons to past US measures, and signals Britain’s intent to leverage visa access for better international cooperation on migration enforcement. While the number of affected visas from these nations is relatively low, the action sets a precedent for addressing non-compliant countries.
